Believe it or not, country music performers don't ride off into the sunset—they buy retirement vacation homes in Boca Raton. Well, at least the mega-stars do. As for everyone whose career proves less "Delta Dawn" and more "Delta Dusk," until now they've been left largely on their own in terms of retirement options.

That should change soon as organizers in the country music industry close on inking a deal to firm up plans for a proposed Country Music Retirement Center in Williamson County. At press time, the CMRC was awaiting board approval on a contract with a nonprofit land development company that would have the facility up and running within five years, according to CMRC spokesperson Katie Gillon.

"Once we sign the contracts," Gillon says, "we will enter into the pre-marketing phase where we will secure the land and produce the marketing materials and architectural drawings. Once we sell 70% of the independent living units, the facility will be financed by tax-free municipal bonds."

Gillon says the facility will be run by its development partner, which in July the CMRC declined to disclose while awaiting contract approval by the boards of directors for both nonprofits. Ultimately, though, it will be owned by the CMRC, whose board members include Paul Corbin, Jeanne Pruett, George Flanigan, Lon Helton, Ed Benson, Mac Wiseman and Harold Bradley.

"[The center] will be a cash-generating endowment that will allow us to subsidize those in the music industry who will need assistance to live there in their retirement," Gillon says. She notes that the CMRC took as its model the long-awaited—40 years in the making—Motion Picture Television Fund Retirement Community near downtown Los Angeles. Occupying a 41-acre complex, the film-industry retirement community operates on a $15 million budget.

Initial plans for the CMRC would accommodate independent and assisted living as well as residents who need full-service medical attention regardless of financial means. Additionally, they plan to offer a special amenity catering to the proclivities of those living there.

"We hope to have an area for performances, a small recording studio and a talk show," Gillon says.

Though initiated and largely funded in the beginning by the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music, Gillon says organizers plan to be more inclusive, allowing entertainers from other genres from rock to rap to spend their golden years relaxing, reflecting and potentially collaborating with country music's retirees.

"We want to open it up to anyone who has worked in the music industry," she says. "There's much work to be done—once we get a sound plan, we'll go to the Garth Brooks, Alan Jacksons and Rascal Flatts [for financial support.]"